"I'll keep doing it as long as [Sherlock grows], as long as I feel he's developing and there's stuff we're all being challenged by and that it's being loyal to the original stories as well," he insisted.

Cumberbatch also credited the popularity of Sherlock with granting him many exciting career opportunities.

"[The show has] done a lot," he explained. "I won't say it's changed my life, because I had a huge break at the same time as this role first came to fruition."

The actor continued: "It was a sort of perfect storm of all mediums coming together at the same time, television, film and theater, even some radio."

Sherlock wrapped up its third series in the US on PBS over the weekend.